LCCI, Lahore district administration join hands to promote district economy

LAHORE, Oct 14 (APP):Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Lahore district administration have agreed to strengthen their collaboration to promote the district economy, facilitate the business community, improve the ease of doing business and create new opportunities for investment and employment in Lahore.

The understanding was reached during an awareness session on Punjab government’s E-Biz Portal held at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here on Wednesday. The session was addressed by Lahore Commissioner Nauman Yousaf, Deputy Commissioner Lahore Captain (R) Muhammad Ali Ijaz, LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar, Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani, Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain and Additional Director of Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) Haseeb Chaudhry. Former LCCI Vice President Mian Zahid Javed, Executive Committee members Imran Ali Zaidi, Shehzad Mahmood, Adeel Babar Khan, Sahir Mushtaq, Muhammad Yasin, Shehzad Ali Shah, Ali Raza Hamid, Mahmood and Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rao Rafi Afzal and PBIT Joint Director Qamar Nazir also attended the awareness session.

A detailed presentation on the Punjab government’s e-Biz Portal was delivered during the session to familiarise participants with its functions and digital business facilitation services.

Commissioner Lahore Nauman Yousaf said that Lahore’s economic potential required strong cooperation between the government and private sector, modern digital systems, effective administrative measures and a business-friendly environment. The Commissioner pointed out that entrepreneurs frequently had to approach multiple government departments to obtain no-objection certificates (NOCs), registrations, licences and certifications. Complicated procedures, unnecessary delays and repeated visits to public offices could affect business operations and discourage investment.

He said digital governance could simplify these processes, reduce unnecessary human intervention, improve transparency and ensure faster delivery of public services.

Deputy Commissioner Lahore Captain (R) Muhammad Ali Ijaz welcomed closer cooperation with the Lahore Chamber’s leadership, noting that new ideas, the exchange of experiences and efforts to find practical solutions beyond conventional approaches could play an important role in economic development.

LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar expressed gratitude to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Lahore Commissioner Nauman Yousaf and Deputy Commissioner Captain (R) Muhammad Ali Ijaz for easing lockdown restrictions following the Lahore Chamber’s request.

He said cooperation between the government and the business community was essential to maintaining commercial activity and supporting the city’s economic development.

The LCCI President stressed that Lahore’s economic development should not remain confined to the District Economy Plan. He proposed launching broader initiatives under the banner of “Invest Lahore” to highlight the city’s investment potential, attract investors and create additional opportunities for businesses.

He said the Lahore Chamber would work closely with the district administration to address business community concerns, improve the ease of doing business, facilitate investment and help establish a supportive environment for industrial and commercial growth. He added that regular engagement between public officials and business representatives could help identify administrative bottlenecks and develop effective solutions.

Ali Hussam Asghar further added that several countries strengthened their district economies by promoting exports of products associated with the specialised skills, expertise and competitive advantages of particular areas. He said Lahore could adopt a similar strategy by identifying products in which the city had distinctive strengths and developing their export potential. Such an approach, he noted, could help expand economic activity, improve market access for local businesses and support export-led growth.

Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani said that maintaining business continuity, expanding economic activity and providing a favourable environment for entrepreneurs were vital to Lahore’s economic progress. He expressed confidence that stronger cooperation between the district administration and the business community would help attract investment, create employment opportunities and expand commercial activities across the city.

He added that government institutions and business representatives needed to work together to address practical challenges, improve the delivery of public services and create conditions that enabled businesses to grow. He said a coordinated approach could help Lahore make better use of its economic strengths and further strengthen its position as a major commercial centre.

LCCI Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain said that Lahore could unlock more of its economic potential through initiatives such as the District Economy Plan and Invest Lahore, alongside the digitalisation of government services, an integrated mechanism for resolving business complaints, the development of modern markets, greater transparency in enforcement and the creation of a business-friendly environment.

He stressed that effective coordination between the district administration and the Lahore Chamber could help streamline administrative procedures, improve communication between businesses and government departments, and ensure that the concerns of the business community received appropriate attention. He added that transparent and efficient public services were important for encouraging entrepreneurship, attracting investment and supporting sustainable economic growth.